Why Christmas Is Not Sentimental | MEDITATIONS | Fr Gavan Jennings

Christmas brings us face to face with tenderness, beauty, and joy — and then, almost without warning, the Church places before us the martyrdom of St Stephen. In this meditation, Fr Gavn reflects on why the Church does this so deliberately: to remind us that the Child in the manger and the man on the Cross are one and the same. Stephen shows us that real love is never sentimental, but always costs something, and that following Christ means learning to imitate what we worship. This reflection invites us to let our Christmas joy be purified and deepened into a love willing to give itself completely. 🔴 THIS SERIES Meditations | Ep. 76 Meditations is a weekly podcast with Fr Gavan Jennings produced by Called to More. Each week you can expect a seed for prayer — on the life of Jesus, his Church and how we can attain sanctity. New episodes every Saturday at 7pm Irish time (2pm Eastern / 11am Pacific). Listen here or anywhere you usually find your podcasts. 🔴 MEMBERSHIPS We couldn't create this series without our members. If you find these videos helpful or think they might help others, please consider becoming a member below. Members receive exclusive content. Join us here: https://www.calledtomore.org/memberships Thank you, and welcome to the team! 🔴 SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: ​​ / ctmcatholic TikTok: / ctm_catholic Facebook: / ctmcatholic Apple (Little by Little): https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast... Spotify (Little by Little): https://open.spotify.com/show/44xk6UN... Spotify (Meditations): https://open.spotify.com/show/7H2lvtJ... 🔴 WEBSITES For more content, visit our website: https://www.calledtomore.org For more on the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, visit their website: https://www.franciscanfriars.com 🔴 SUBSCRIBE Subscribing to this channel helps us to grow and reach more people. It's simple and free, and we'd really appreciate it!